This year, Culhane’s efforts earned her the Most Valuable Player award.

“I really want to end on top,” said Culhane, who is headed to Amherst. “I wanted to do everything I can to help my team win this game. I don’t have that many more opportunities for high school field hockey.”

She is definitely making the most of these final moments.

The Big Red (14-4), who were the seventh seed, started the season off 2-3 and have won 12 of the last 13. They now await the winner of Peddie and Blair to play for the Prep A championship next.

“We came out and started playing right from the start,” said Lawrenceville coach Lisa Ewanchyna. “The girls were ready to play. We kept putting the pressure on, and if you keep putting the ball in that end, someone is going to get their stick on it.”

Culhane did at the 24:31 mark of the first half and then again with 9:32 left in the initial period.

South (15-5) challenged in the second half but couldn’t crack the Big Red defense and get one in the cage.

“I only thing I ever want out of the girls is to give everything they have, and they did that,” said South coach Christine Cabarle. “Lawrenceville is aggressive, they are fast and they are everything you want in an opponent and we didn’t crumble.”

South, which was without leading scorer Colby Hussong due to an injury, got a solid game from Emily Kramer in goal with 12 saves.

“This means a lot to win this,” said Culhane. “We lost a lot of players from last year, but we were able to overcome that and be really successful.”

The Big Red controlled the play in the midfield and continued to put the pressure on the South cage in the early going. When Culhane got the ball on her stick she made a few moves and found the back of the goal.

Her second goal, her 16th of the season, came off a rebound of her own shot late in the first half.

“She gives us speed and stickwork,” said Ewanchyna of Culhane, who also plays ice hockey. “She didn’t always play field hockey and she has picked it up really well.”

Well enough to be the Most Valuable Player of the Mercer County Tournament.

“I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” said Culhane of the MVP. “It’s a great feeling to get that recognition,but it’s more important to me that we won the title, again.”